THE star of this Australian Open is gorgeous, in an elegant, retro way. Refreshingly, she doesn't drone on about shopping expeditions or her new puppy.

This star is wide-reaching, powerful and direct; yet capable of imparting spin when necessary.

She is not some lucratively paid racquet-model, but a shot. The star of this tournament is the exquisite, beguiling, surprisingly ubiquitous Ms Single-Handed Backhand.

SHB has been a regular visitor to the Australian Open, always travelling first class with Roger Federer. However, so charming is Federer's game, and his manner, he could wear a gorilla suit with the urbane poise James Bond wears a tuxedo. SHB is merely his plus-one.

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It has been SHB's appearance in the company of others that has reminded us of her charm. And, at Melbourne Park, SHB has been putting herself about.

Stanislas Wawrinka used SHB, in a gentlemanly way, to take Novak Djokovic to the brink. The moment was not, well, consummated. But it was still a big night out and they did not get home until 2am.

Jeremy Chardy and Richard Gasquet have, with their Gallic charm, romanced SHB. A mesmerising duet continues in Wednesday's quarter-finals, when Chardy and SHB play the role of Torvill and Dean against Andy Murray, who wields his tradesmanlike double-fister like Tonya Harding's iron bar.

On Tuesday, on Rod Laver Arena, SHB was particularly feisty in Nicolas Almagro's embrace. The Spaniard's single-fister is a red-blooded flourish that makes you wonder if he learnt the game from a tennis instructor or a matador. When Almagro, and SHB, led fourth seed David Ferrer two sets to love, it appeared this would not be their last tango at Melbourne Park. Sadly, after serving for the match three times, Almagro limped away from a devastating five-set loss - coincidentally, with a sore groin.

The return of SHB to the limelight might be coincidental, rather than an indication she has the marvellous durability of Judi Dench. As commentator Wally Masur observes, to be with SHB you have to be good. She doesn't hang out with no-names and satellite tour hacks.

Two-time grand slam champion Fred Stolle played in an era when SHB's usurper, DHB, was the wallflower. South African Cliff Drysdale was one of the few top-flight players to strangle the grip with two unsightly hands. ''There were others,'' recalls Stolle. ''Pancho Segura was a double-hander, although he had a double-handed forehand as well. But they were the exceptions.''

Drysdale, a commentator for ESPN, once suggested Federer would be better without SHB. Which was a bit like suggesting Tom Brady should ditch Gisele Bundchen.

Asking the many coaches prowling the corridors of Melbourne Park how SHB became the game's Greta Garbo, and the theories are abundant.

Boiled down: DHB is better for ''racquet stability''; makes it easier for high balls; the grip adjustment for SHB is more difficult and, given DHB requires less strength, it is easier for juniors to perfect.

Stolle has another reason for SHB's banishment. ''Most of the coaches now have never hit a single-handed backhand themselves so they don't know how to teach it,'' he says.

SHB has done more than just flutter her eyelids here. The added reach, greater power and the touch and slice that are her significant assets have broken some DHB-loving hearts. But, for the fan, SHB's appeal is Sharapova-shallow. She is just so easy on the eye.

With SHB on the centre court catwalk, some even yearn for the day when that old vamp, Serve Volley, spruces herself up and returns to the game. Ms SV caused some arousal during a match in which Radek Stepanek relied on her 70 times. Unheard of in an era when some grand slam champions sometimes come to the net seven times in a fortnight. Each of them to shake (still single) hands.